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06-14-2015, 05:29 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: up up and away
Posts: 312
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Can rocket titanium legs be used on an RV-4?
Not that I am wanting to make the switch to titanium legs, but I often wonder if the rocket Ti legs are the same size as the -4 long legs. By size I am referring to overall length, and diameter where it plugs into the engine mount. I usually think the rocket looks like it has longer legs than even a long legged -4. Anybody know the answer? This always crosses my mind when I am thinking about ways to remove weight from my airplane. Through my searches, it doesn't seem anybody has used rocket legs on a -4, so I am guessing it can't be done.
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06-14-2015, 08:01 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Posts: 1,213
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I wouldn't take any weight off the front of my 4, and most need weight on the front end. I have 2 friends with Rockets, and I will take a look, but I'm pretty sure they are quite a bit longer.
__________________
Bill E.
RV-4/N76WE
8A7 / Advance NC
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06-15-2015, 07:34 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TX32
Posts: 1,891
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Short answer, no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CATPart
Not that I am wanting to make the switch to titanium legs, but I often wonder if the rocket Ti legs are the same size as the -4 long legs. By size I am referring to overall length, and diameter where it plugs into the engine mount. I usually think the rocket looks like it has longer legs than even a long legged -4. Anybody know the answer? This always crosses my mind when I am thinking about ways to remove weight from my airplane. Through my searches, it doesn't seem anybody has used rocket legs on a -4, so I am guessing it can't be done.
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David,
Rocket legs are larger at the mount, much longer and only work by design on the Rocket engine mount. They are also made of titanium with the axles attached via bolts.
The stock long legs on an RV4 work very well, don't mess with success... 
V/R
Smokey
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06-15-2015, 07:39 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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If the legs are longer, they would put your main wheels further back relative to the CG if you just swapped them into an existing -4 mount. CG issues in flight aside, it would seriously affect your ground handling too.
I suppose you could put a Rocket engine mount *and* gear on a stock RV-4? But you'd have to play with the cowling a bit I'd guess.
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Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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06-15-2015, 10:05 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Scappoose
Posts: 119
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The last time I saw a set of Rocket legs, they were very different than the RV4 legs. They had a completely different mounting solution.
So, you would have to change the engine mount quite a bit, or use a rocket mount like was previously suggested.
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06-15-2015, 10:11 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Also, in addition to the mounting issues previously mentioned, consider that the rocket has a stretched fuselage, and the gear are designed around that too, the shorter fuse of the 4 will cause an even higher nose up attitude when on the ground.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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06-15-2015, 11:11 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mount Vernon, IN
Posts: 1,270
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In short, no.
If you're willing to weld a completely new engine mount, including the specially machined and reamed sockets that accept the Rocket legs, spend big bucks on the legs, guess at the tire alignment, and hope that the weight of your plane is not too light such that the Rocket legs will be too stiff.... sure, you can do it.
If you want to simply replace the steel RV gear with an identical piece of titanium, you might be able to do that. You'll need to figure in the axle sockets since you can't bend the titanium like the bottom of the RV legs do.
But, like others have asked.... why? The work isn't worth the relatively small weight reduction. Maybe put in a small battery and glass instruments instead!
__________________
Vince Frazier
www.f1aircraft.com
F1 Rocket and F4 Raider components
1-888-F1AIRCRAFT (1-888-312-4727)
www.flyboyaccessories.com
RV and Rocket Accessories, Tailwheels, Tools, & More
1-888-8FLYBOY (1-888-835-9269)
F4 Raider - under construction
F1-H Rocket "Crazy Horse" - sold
RV-4 "Chief Pontiac" - sold in 1994, purchased in 2018
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06-15-2015, 12:00 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: up up and away
Posts: 312
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That is a unanimous no, as I suspected. I was just always curious about it from the day I heard they had Ti legs. I would never consider such a change unless they were the same size, and of course I had an actual need to replace them, which I have none. Anyway, you could likely save 10 pounds or more with such a swap if they were of identical geometry and yes Ti is more springy in this case. I have no idea what the geometry and weight of a standard long -4 gear leg is (is it hollow?), so I am just guesstimating.
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06-15-2015, 03:22 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oliver BC & Red Deer Alberta Canada
Posts: 350
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long leg conversion
Longer legs would be good if your RV4 had short legs like mine.
Could someone make a long leg conversion for the older style RV4's? Having the pin that inserts into the engine mount machined with an offset to allow for a proper geometry? Would be simpler and easier then changing out the motor mount for the longer new style legs. Just another idea.
Tim
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06-16-2015, 10:44 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Scappoose
Posts: 119
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riobison,
The longer rv4 legs are also larger in diameter where they fit into the engine mount.
Custom legs could be made, but the engineering and design work to make sure it will work as wanted has not been done to the best of my knowledge.
If you wanted to discuss the possibility of making a set of custom legs, PM me and we can talk about it off line.
Thanks,
Richard
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